A Bit of a Boob

Boobs are having a bit of a music moment.

From Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines to Justin Timberlake's new video: Tunnel Vision, YouTube are cracking the whip when it comes to nudity.

Timberlake has managed to have his banning over turned today and I can see why- I would hardly say this video is explicit as it has been described, it's just girls dancing around (and not even that provocatively) with some laser projections, not that raunchy if you ask me.

My question is what is the point? While I appreciate nudity in a creative format, this video seems to have boobs for the sake of boobs. It doesn't really do anything for it, I actually think the early parts of the video are sexier when we are seeing the thought of a boob- you know a flash of side boob, a hint of a nipple, a curvy silhouette or a sexy back (pardon the Justin Timberlake pun there), when it gets to the full on front shots I think these girls look a bit boring.

What do you think? Was this worth banning?

            

Ziggy Played Guitar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID BOWIE.

You Need A Fashion Shower

Anna Dello Russo, my absolute favourite of  the fashion crowd (sorry Carine- you come a super-close second), launched her collection for H&M last week. I didn't get chance to go to the store (I had my eyes on the crocodile sunglasses) as I was chained to my desk. To make up for missing out, I have been watching this on repeat so I simply had to share, it's too good not to!

              

I need dollar

Anyone got a spare $4,281 they can lend me for this perfect pearlised knit dress with fluted skirt from Azzedine Alaïa's spring 12 collection? It's pretty much love with this one, I keep imagining it with a tan leather wedge and a slick of red lipstick for the summer. Oh well, I can but dream.

          

The Kills 10 year anniversary: The Last Goodbye

You may remember from numerous posts like this one and this one, that I have a slight girl crush on Alison Mosshart of The Kills and after seeing this, it's only further confirmed. Their recent single from album, Blood Pressures; The Last Goodbye is a far cry from their regular sound but I like it. The nostalgic piano and haunting tones of Mosshart's voice on the track are simple and evoke emotion.

On to the video. Actress Samantha Morton directed the piece set in an old photobooth and filmed to the style of an old 35mm in black and white. The slightly innocent, uncomplicated track is echoed in the video and it captures the duo's ten year collabouration and friendship.

                

Vogue Japan: Keeping the faith

WOW.

This soot for Vogue Japan 2012 shot by Carlyne Cere De Dudzeele and styled by Sissy Vian is incredible. I love the styling, the hair, the lighting, the make-up...ok I basically love the lot. As anyone with a fashion eye can tell, about three tonnes of Versace has been used here whether it's current, vintage or their collection for H&M. Emilio Pucci and Balmain also feature amongst others. It's rather reminiscent of the PPQ SS12 show which I also fell in love with back in September.

I'm off to buy some ridiculous hair dye...

I'm also rather fond of the name of the story because it reminds me of the Jovi, who after 16 years, I'm still obsessed with.

                                 

Bang Bang

Another obscure internet find...gun fingernails.

To note, these have been added in Photoshop by artist Laurent Theophane Bertrand for Super Super magazine, but for the sake of the post let's pretend they're real shall we?

These look pretty cool although I'm not sure how easy the regular gal would be able to find her Oyster Card/lace her shoes/carry her Tesco shop home with these babies.

I wonder what other items one could glue to one's fingernails...Snacks? Cigarettes? Miniature bottles of gin?

Coming to a Lady Gaga near you soon.

                             

Visuals

I stumbled across this clip the other day (ah the joys of browsing the web during the weekend), it's the opening titles of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and it's pretty schweeet.

           

The track is pretty good too. Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and composer/musician Atticus Ross' cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song is pretty great but here's the original for those that prefer the old school...

                               

Shangri La comes to London

The design team that are creative forces behind the friggin awesome Shangri-La at Glastonbury are set to work on a new project opening on 1st June 2012. The London Pleasure Gardens will be created on a dis-used 60,000sqm space in east London. It will be an arts and entertainment haven and if the setting is anything like Shangri-La it will be a visual spectacular too.

The space is set to include an outdoor event space, a multi-arts dome, a night gallery and dance arena called The Hub, a floating cocktail lounge and floating cinema, a boutique art hotel and restaurant and a glass café. Video mapping and large video game projections will provide entertainment during the olympic games at the space too.

Another reason to long for summer now, as if this cold weather wasn't enough.

Images of Shangri-La, Glastonbury from various sources

Standing in line to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Pre the madness triple (this is what I like to call the crazy last three weeks that have occurred), my wonderful friend Tasha treated me to the hottest ticket in town- Red Hot Chili Peppers at the o2 Arena.

It was the Monday night after The Boy's birthday weekend, suffice to say I was feeling rather ropey from the nine course decadent feast provided by Petrus on the Friday and all day drinking from Saturday lunchtime until a time I probably shouldn't mention on Sunday.

So back to the Monday, I was struggling at a shoot throughout the day and trekked to the o2 feeling a little low in spirits. Within minutes of meeting my old pal I was already feeling better, the excitement was growing throughout dinner and then it was time to hit the show.

The band played a wondrous mix of old and new tracks which gave us plenty of opportunity to sing along while they ran about the stage with as much energy as they did ten years ago.

Thanks to Tasha for an amazing evening and thanks to the Chili's for kicking my hangover into out of space.

              

Workin' Day and Night

Dear readers, I write you this from the depths of the costume department at a TV studio in Wimbledon. I am in week three of a mega project and the seven day weeks, and 16 hour days are starting to wear on me. The project is great and it's rather nice to step out of my comfort zone of fashion and into something different. I can't tell you what the project is right now but it is based on a rather large event that occurred this year.

It's a project I've been able to get my teeth into and one that is different from my day-to-day which is fun but I missing a few things. Sleep, heels, magazines vegetables and wonderful/silly clothes (studios tend to be rather cold so jumpers and jeans it is...that's right JEANS), are all top of my miss-list so expect to be bombarded with over the top outfit posts when I'm back to compensate.

I do hope you forgive me for my lack of communication during this time but hey, a self employed girl's gotta work it like the rent's due at all times, that's how it rolls.

Here's some Monday morning Michael for you...

             

Bon Iver at Hammersmith Apollo

When I was about ten years old my dad took me to see my first gig. It was in Brighton and we went to see Sting (before he got all political and Karma Sutra on us). I remember it vividly and it opened me up to the world of live music. Seventeen years later (yes do the maths and you will finally see how old I really am), I took Papa Coco to see Bon Iver and it was great.

The usual three-piece, founded by lead singer Justin Vernon has been transformed into a nine-piece band for the tour and includes two sets of drums, brass and violin players. I have never been to a gig where the entire crowd stood still and in silence, completely gripped by every track performed. A strong mix of new album named simply 'Bon Iver' and firm music fan favourite, debut album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' was played with a few treats such as a very beat heavy version of my favourite track, Bloodbank and an incredible violin solo at the end of Beach Baby.

After seeing Bon Iver at Glastonbury in 2008 it's safe to say I had been waiting for a UK tour for two years and it was worth the wait. All-in-all it was a truly magical performance and I night I will cherish forever.

Bon Iver Ticket For Sale

UPDATE ON THIS POST: THIS TICKET HAS NOW BEEN SOLD

So after a long mix up when buying tickets, I have one seated ticket for sale for the sought after Bon Iver gig on Monday 24th October at Hammersmith Apollo. Block 7, Row E, really close to the front, a great little spot. I paid £70 and am only looking to get what I paid back so let me know if you want to open yourself up to the greatest night of your life!

                                    

The Holiday

Right lovely, beautiful readers, I am finally doing it. I am off on holiday! It's the first time in 3 and a half years (that's longer than this blog has been going) and I couldn't be more excited. I'm currently tying up loose ends work wise and have almost finished packing (should have done this earlier seeing as I leave at 5:30am),but in the madness I have taken a quick break to share my most favourite discovery this week...The Holiday Rap.

Amazing, 80s awesomeness at it's very best. I will not be taking my laptop (I think I will have withdrawal symptoms) so until I am back please enjoy the dulcet tones of MC Miker and DJ Sven...

                            

LFW: PPQ SS12

The PPQ show was immense. I loved it, I even loved the huge queue (or the PP-Queue, see what I did there?) outside. Ok so maybe I didn't love the queue, but I did love the anticipation that grew whilst I was in the queue. Thank god I got there when I did as I doubt everyone behind me got in.

The sound track was amazing, a soft piano instrumental of Kanye West's Gold Digger played upon entry- a hint that Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker are still being inspired by hip-hop?

The rest of the show was accompanied by banging 90s tracks which added to the glory of the collection. Opening looks were cutsey dresses in pretty pastels with little touches such as lapels and gold buttons. Then came the fun. Bold, bright abstract prints, lots of gold detailing and inspired yet wearable denim (courtesy of their collaboration with Lee Jeans). The brand also collaborated with Bebaroque for some draw-dropping tights, leggings and body suits.

Images taken from style.com (mine were sadly not up to scratch on this occasion!)

To conclude I would say the collection was a mis-mash of 90s hip hop, western cowboys, euro-trash and a touch of Zorro...all in the best meaning of the sense.

Perfect. It's LOVE.

I also bumped into famous 'FROW' and fashion week attendee, Pandemonia. You may remember her from my interview with her earlier this year. Read the interview here.

The finale...

If You Say Run, I'll Run With You...

Where's it from?

Dressing gown (worn as jacket), leather bag, brooch: vintage, chunky necklace: Topshop, multi-strand necklace and belt: Warehouse, leotard: American Apparel, sandals: New Look

Some Bowie for you...

Getting Over The Glasto Blues: iTunes Festival: Seasick Steve...

Last night I found the cure to my Glastonbury blues, who knew that it would be a performance by veteran blues singer, Seasick Steve. This year's iTunes festival started on Friday night and last night I was lucky enough to go Camden's Roundhouse for the festivities (mega big thanks to besties; Ria and Rory for the pleasure).

Happily sitting in the members bar with a great view, sipping on a gin and tonic was great enough. Then a few tracks in, Led Zeppelin's bassist John Paul Jones joined Seastick Steve on stage for the duration of the set. If that wasn't a treat enough, mid-set one of my top three rock chickas of all time, Alison Mosshart of The Kills came on as well as none other than Jack White of the White Stripes on drums. The dream team played one track together as the crowd went wild in the realisation that they were seeing something truly important.

Thanks Steve, I feel better now.

Glasto: The Round Up...

Yes, I'm back from my annual pilgrimage to the most magical and beautiful place on earth and I am slightly broken from all that fun.

I will try to keep my round up short and sweet as for those who missed the best event of the year, my ramblings may well make you a teeny bit jealous.

Here is a little snippet of who I saw...

Two Door Cinema Club, Wu-Tang Clan, Radiohead, U2, Rob Da Bank, Plump DJs, Jimmy Eat World, Pulp, Chemical Brothers, Shy FX, Laura Marling, Paul Simon, Beyonce and about a ton of great DJs.

I spent some beautiful time in the healing fields and had a massage avec hippie love. I chilled at the infamous Stone Circle as well as the highest point of the festival and basked in awe at the view.

Five much needed days away from the hustle and bustle of my hectic, London life has sorted me out completely and as soon as I get my voice back I will  be feeling 100% better.

What I wore...

For those of you that have been, you will know that there is far too much to see and do to worry about your look the whole time. Therefore you will not be getting infinite outfit posts from myself from Glasto. Here is a little taste of my festival wardrobe though.

Where's it from?

Look 1: Hat, fox tail, bag and t-shirt: vintage, leather jacket: Warehouse, leggings: H&M

Look 2: Top: H&M, cycling shorts: Primark, bag, tail and jacket: as before.

Sunglasses (both looks): Vintage.

Highlights...

My highlights have to be U2 (yes a surprise for me too), Chemical Brothers, Beyonce (another surprise for me), Plump DJ's, Pulp, finding Strummerville and my beautiful morning in the healing fields.

I will be posting another visual diary before the week is out so stay tuned.

Simply Amazemo...

Currently I am completely addicted to Funky Cold Medina by Tone Loc.

Enjoy... 

Stumbling On Greatness...

LOVE this...